January 18, 2017 AT 5:00 am

When You Need to Be a Tech Mermaid #WearableWednesday #wearabletech #arduino #DIY

It’s always exciting to find another successful build of an Adafruit project, and in this case it’s Ursula’s necklace inspired by The Little Mermaid. The golden shell was created by Linda and well documented on her blog MooseTech Enterprises. Linda wanted to be a mermaid for Halloween and was lucky enough to find our learning guide for the necklace. Her partner, John, had also recently purchased a 3D printer, so there was some excitement that she “finally found a use for the 3D printer.”

The main electronics for the necklace include an Adafruit FLORA microcontroller, as well as a Neopixel Ring and microphone. Although I thought the 3D print would be the challenge, Linda actually breezed through that section. The assembly turned out to be the tricky element.

The biggest challenge was trying to figure out how to get everything inside the hollowed out area without having anything fall out. It was also tough to figure out what to do with the microphone and its wires. The solution I found involved quite a lot of twisting of all the components.

It appears all of the parts ended up in the shell, even if it was a tight squeeze. It looks as though regular stranded wire was used, but I’m betting that silicone wire would have been even more flexible for this project. The beauty of open source is that we all learn by sharing our experiences and insights. My favorite part of Linda’s documentation is the test video for the LEDs reacting to sound.

For finishing touches, Linda customized the necklace by including a black velvet cord that is secured with a lobster clasp. This allows the length of the necklace to be changed depending on the neckline of the outfit. If you are considering making this necklace, definitely check out Linda’s tips on her master blog post. Then, you can start the build with our learning guide for Ursula’s Seashell Necklace. Whether you are looking for a winning costume or just something fun to wear for a fest, this necklace is sure to dazzle.